New York Rangers: Five players impressing through two games

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The New York Rangers have played and won two preseason games so far. It’s the first impression the Rangers get of many young players on the team. While some have faltered, others have stood out.

The New York Rangers have won both of their preseason games to this point, and have had many players show promise so far. The most convincing of performances are coming from the newcomers, but some returning players have also come to preseason sharp as a tack.

The Rangers won their first preseason game on September 18 against the New York Islanders 1-0 in overtime. The game winning goal was scored by rookie Neal Pionk, who the Rangers signed out of college. Ondrej Pavelec and Brandon Halverson only faced a combined 17 shots over the course of the game.

The Rangers followed the overtime win against the Islanders with another overtime win, this time against the New Jersey Devils. The final score was 4-3, with Filip Chytil scoring the deciding goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime. Chytil was playing in his first North American professional hockey game.

Through two games, who have been the most standout players for the Rangers so far?

Neal Pionk had a very, very good game against the Islanders. He spent the game paired with Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh, Pionk played over 22 minutes. He showed off his defensive prowess in the Rangers end multiple times, making solid reads and strong passes.

Pionk’s time on the ice also included almost six minutes of power play time and five minutes of penalty kill time. He showed versatility in being able to handle multiple special teams situations, which raises comparison to McDonagh.

Pionk dazzled late in the game, scoring a beautiful overtime winning. Pionk used a spin move on Islanders veteran Brock Nelson. After clearing Nelson, Pionk drove to the net, deked, and scored. Pionk’s offensive mind was on display all night in his Rangers preseason debut.

Based on his performance, Pionk is a player to keep your eye on for the upcoming season. He will likely start the year with the Hartford Wolfpack, but Pionk’s offensive and defensive abilities were both on full display against the Islanders. He played a complete game with a style much like that of McDonagh’s, and the sky is the limit for Pionk.

Anthony DeAngelo

Another young defenseman for the New York Rangers that showed off his skills was Anthony DeAngelo. DeAngelo was acquired in the trade that sent Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes over the summer. The offensive minded defenseman has some off-the-ice personality issues, but he seemed to leave most of them in the locker room for the game.

DeAngelo played a very offensive game, much to what the Rangers expected. DeAngelo made clean passes all night, setting up scoring chances left and right. He also ran the power play smoothly, showing prowess at the point.

Even DeAngelo’s defensive play wasn’t bad. Many criticized the DeAngelo trade, citing DeAngelo as a liability in the back end. DeAngelo did play the least shorthanded of any Rangers defenseman, but they were able to trust his defensive skill enough to put him on the ice shorthanded. At least it’s something.

However, DeAngelo’s character issues did manifest on the ice. DeAngelo was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the third period. It didn’t end up costing the Rangers a goal, but it is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses, as DeAngelo is likely to make the team out of training camp.

Lias Andersson

The Rangers first first round pick, the seventh overall, was used on Lias Andersson. Andersson has long been rumored to be high on the totem pole for the third line center position, and he took steps towards claiming it in two preseason games for the Rangers.

Andersson provided an extra spark to his lines in each games. He was brilliant on the forecheck, whirling around the offensive zone to disrupt breakout plays from the opposing teams. He also showed a great eye for the ice, setting up clean and solid passes to creative areas. Andersson started the play which Neal Pionk eventually scored in overtime on, getting a pass from Boo Nieves to Pionk. Andersson was much quieter in the game against the Devils, but still showed a high hockey IQ. He made slick passes on the forecheck all night, including a laser pass during overtime that almost resulted in a Rangers goal.

If Andersson keeps up what he’s been doing in the first two preseason games, it’s going to be hard for the Rangers to ignore. He’s done everything the Rangers could’ve asked for, and he looks more than comfortable with the speed of the NHL. Andersson will likely get a couple games off, but he’s definitely a player to keep an eye on.

Filip Chytil

Filip Chytil made his North American professional hockey debut against the New Jersey Devils on September 20. He also scored his first goal in a Rangers uniform. It was an overtime winner. Chytil went backdoor after a pass through the crease by Mats Zuccarello. It capped off an impressive night for the seventh overall draft pick.

Chytil, who was drafted with the pick acquired from the Derek Stepan trade, exceeded expectations. He turned 18-years-old just this month, and he is already in clear contention for the Rangers roster. Chytil showed off his great hands all night, weaving in and out of the Devils defense. He was robbed on a handful of scoring chances, but eventually made up for it by winning the game.

It’s hard to not put the cart ahead of the horse with Chytil. He’s an incredibly gifted player, yet he’s also very young. Alain Vigneault has said Chytil has a chance at cracking the roster, and if he keeps up the play he’s had, he’ll be on it. Even so, seeing him in with the Hartford Wolfpack for a season or two wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Kevin Shattenkirk

When the New York Rangers say jump, Kevin Shattenkirk asks how high. The newly acquired defenseman was turning heads throughout the Rangers 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Shattenkirk might as well have been Superman, because it seemed like he could’ve done anything.

He manned the power play, quarterbacking it with ease. It was the kind of power play performance Rangers fans haven’t seen in ages. Sure, Ryan McDonagh is a great power play quarterback, but Shattenkirk was on a next level. He was dialed in, even for a preseason game, making precise passes, taking shots, and setting up scoring chances. He had two assists on the night, with one of the coming on the power play. The only thing Shattenkirk didn’t do much of was play shorthanded, where he only clocked 1:18.

The Rangers knew what they were getting with Shattenkirk. He’s an elite defenseman, and his performance was that of an elite defenseman. He looked very comfortable all night long, as if he was truly in his element. It’s going to be a treat for Rangers fans to see Kevin Shattenkirk play at Madison Square Garden all year long.

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